New Hampshire is synonymous with classic country inns, each reflecting their distinct personalities as shaped by topography, property history, and innkeepers. Adair Country Inn & Restaurant, situated within the borders of White Mountain National Park in Bethlehem, is a perfect example as it's surrounded by more than 200 acres of meadow and forest land interlaced with a network of old carriage roads and hiking trails.
The magnificent three story Georgian Revival home you see today was built in 1927 by attorney Frank Hogan as a wedding present to his daughter Dorothy Adair. This was a monumental achievement for somebody who grew up in poverty during the late 19th century, not able to receive formal education past eighth grade. Despite his humble beginnings, Frank earned his law degree and formed Hogan & Hartson, one of Washington D.C.'s major law firms at the time, gaining acclaim by successfully defending Edward Doheny during the Teapot Dome case in the 1920s. Doheny gave Hogan $1 million cash above his fee as a thank you gift for keeping him out of prison. George spent his earnings on the construction of Adair, giving birth to his signature quote, "the ideal client is a rich man when he's scared."
Sitting on a grassy knoll overlooking the Presidential Mountain Range, the house and back patio is also perched above Frederick Law Olmsted-designed grounds and gardens. The patio flanks a tennis court below, providing the perfect respite during warmer months. Adair's massive granite block foundation, carved from a local quarry, is prominently on display in the slate-floored basement recreation lounge. The room is outfitted with a large fireplace, which makes it ideal for warming up after a long day of skiing. A 1929 Oliver Briggs Boston billiards table sits to one side, while a small bar (reminiscent of a 1920's speakeasy), and a 42-inch flat-screen TV create an atmosphere perfect for curling up with a movie from the inn's large collection.
Vintage books and photos are on display throughout the property and Dorothy's hats remain preserved to this day. Each hat is seen lining the second floor stairwell landing bookcases, giving you the feeling that the Adair's stepped out for a moment and will be returning shortly. Each room is named after a local mountain and furnished with period antiques, spacious bathrooms, and gas fireplaces in most. In addition to a generous afternoon tea that's served in the elegant living room, the inn offers packages enhancing particular aspects of your stay like picnic baskets packed to your specs for a day of hiking and Rafting Getaways.
Even before this nine room house opened in 1992 as an inn (and quickly achieving 4 Diamond status), Adair hosted many distinguished guests including presidential hopefuls, Supreme Court justices, governors, senators and actress Helen Hayes.
The property's most recent innkeepers, husband and wife team Cindy Foster and Tom LaPointe, capitalize on their combined 35 year experience in hospitality and customer service to keep the inn running smoothly with a personal touch that exudes an extra-refined, yet unpretentious ambiance.
"Personal attention and one-on-one interactions with our guests are what we truly value here at Adair," says Cindy. "In our otherwise increasingly impersonal world, Tom and I do everything we can to ensure all guests feel as though they are staying with close friends or family."
Although they have staff helping them out, Cindy and Tom are integral to the day-to-day experience. Cindy greets you in the morning at breakfast to make sure everything on your day's itinerary is set, while in the evening guests sample her bartending skills. Tom's talent in the kitchen was put to immediate use when they took over Adair, as he developed the inn's signature pop-over recipe.
